We flew with B.A to New York in December, a few years ago. We started from Aberdeen, to Heathrow and then on to N.York, same on the way back We did not see our hold luggage. On our return journey we bought two bottles of alcohol at J.F.K. We were told to pick it up as we board the plane as it would be sealed and have a customs receipt and stamp on it. We got it and took it on the plane at J.F.K.. At Heathrow we were taken from the plane by bus to another part of the airport and then to go through customs. At no time where we out of a secure area. We were told by Customs we could not take the alcohol onto the flight to Aberdeen. It is a long story, but we explained it was customs sealed and receipted in the States and we could not possibily have got it anywhere else, it was no use, they would not allow it. They said they would take it off us and put it in a safe place in the hold. However, they said we had to put it in a bag. My husband had a new leather bag he had bought in Fethiye. He emptied it and put the bottles in there, we were told to pick them up at Aberdeen Airport. When we reached Aberdeen Airport the bottles had gone missing. When we got home, my husband had left the keys one of the suitcases in his leather bag. We had to break the lock on the case. After one week the bag and the bottles turned up. Apparently one bottle hd smashed in the bag. My husband made approximately 27 calls to Aberdeen Airport to pick up his bag and the remaining bottle. The phone was engaged, not picked up or he was put off by the staff. Eventually, he went to the Airport and the bag was given to him, it was ruined. Where was the other bottle he asked? He was told it was cracked and the alcohol had leaked out and it was thrown away.
We put in a claim. We were told we would get nothing by B.A. as we should not have brought the bottles of alcohol. We contacted the Sunday Post Newspaper. They printed the Story. We had a call from B.A. They told us they were compensating us for the two bottles, my husband's bag and they were also letting us pick a new suitcase from the Antler Website.
As a really strange conclusion to this story. I was told by the girl who did my nails that her Father worked at the Airport. He was asked by the staff in the B.A. Office would he drop off the bag and the bottle of alcohol to us as he lived nearby. He told them it was not his job to do that and they should send a taxi to us with the items.
He then told his daughter that the bottle of alcohol was still in the Office and was drunk by the staff at their Christmas Party. There was no damage to it. Of course we could do nothing about this as it may have endangered his job.
